Ben Haenow (album)

Ben Haenow is the self-titled debut studio album by English singer Ben Haenow, released on 13 November 2015, through Syco Music and RCA Records. After winning the eleventh series of The X Factor in 2014, Haenow travelled to Los Angeles to immediately begin development of the album by collaborating with established musicians such as Kelly Clarkson, Julian Bunetta, Iain James, Kodaline, Anne Preven, Red Triangle, Steve Robson, J.R. Rotem, and Amy Wadge.

Ben Haenow
Studio album by
Ben Haenow
Released13 November 2015 (2015-11-13)
Recorded2014–2015
Genre
Length51:10
Label
Producer
Ben Haenow chronology
Ben Haenow
(2015)		 Alive
(2018)
Singles from Ben Haenow
  1. "Something I Need"
    Released: 14 December 2014
  2. "Second Hand Heart"
    Released: 16 October 2015

Haenow described the record as a mélange of uptempo pop rock anthems and pop ballads, making a departure from the rock album he was expected to release following his tenure on The X Factor. Ben Haenow was preceded by the release of its lead single, "Second Hand Heart", which became a top 40 hit on the Official UK Singles Chart. The album's supporting tour, the One Night Tour, commenced in April 2016.

Background and recording

Upon winning the eleventh series of The X Factor, Haenow released his debut single, a cover version of OneRepublic's "Something I Need" in December 2014.[1] The track debuted at the top of the Official UK Singles Chart while simultaneously becoming the UK Christmas number one single of the year.[2] In January 2015, Haenow signed a recording contract with his mentor Simon Cowell's record company Syco Music; and in October 2015, he entered into a US record deal with Sony Music Entertainment's RCA Records label.[1][3][4]

Immediately after signing his contract with Syco, Haenow travelled to Los Angeles began recording tracks for his debut studio album.[1][3] He also began to write new material for the album with Kodaline, J.R. Rotem, Amy Wadge, Julian Bunetta, and Steve Robson.[3] Much of the album was recorded on the Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, with Haenow amassing over 60–70 recorded songs for potential selection.[3][5]

Composition

Haenow described the album as a pop rock record, saying that "About half of the album is in that uptempo pop rock reign, the other half is a mix of ballads and different stuff", while also describing it as "something a bit more organic and more singer-songwriter stuff."[5][6][7] Despite being expected to release a rock album due to rock-oriented roots during his season on The X Factor, he felt that recording a full-on rock record would fail to achieve commercial success.[5][6][8][9] "Second Hand Heart" will open the album as the lead track, featuring Kelly Clarkson.[10] Produced by Afterhrs and Julian Bunetta, it was written by Afterhrs members Ian Franzino and Andrew Haas, who co-wrote it with Artist vs. Poet members Joe Kirkland & Jason Dean, with additional writing by Neil Ormandy.[10]

"Slamming Doors", which Haenow co-wrote with Amy Wadge and Jim Duguid, follows as a piano-driven ballad.[5] The third track, "All Yours", was produced by Rotem, who also co-wrote it with Haenow and Wadge.[5] Written by Haenow with Iain James and Robson, "Start Again", follows as the fourth track.[5] Produced by Robson, it was the first song to be written for the album.[5] Haenow co-wrote the ninth track, "Brother", about his sibling, a guitarist whom Haenow had worried about being neglected while he was competing on The X Factor.[8] Haenow's version of "Something I Need" was included as the tenth track and the closing song on the album's standard edition.[11]

Release and promotion

Ben Haenow was released on 13 November 2015, by Syco Music and RCA Records, making him the first male winner of The X Factor to receive an American joint release deal and the second X Factor winner after Leona Lewis, who was also signed to RCA during her tenure with Syco.[3][12] To promote the album, Haenow premiered "Second Hand Heart" in a live performance on the twelfth series of The X Factor on 31 October 2015.[13]

Singles

"Second Hand Heart" was released as the lead single from Ben Haenow on 16 October 2015. Syco also issued "Make It Back to Me" and "All Yours" as promotional singles from the album on 4 and 11 November 2015, respectively.[14][15] Haenow also revealed plans to issue "Slamming Doors" as follow-up single to "Second Hand Heart" in the future.[5] However, these plans have since been halted due to Haenow parting ways with Syco via mutual agreement.[16]

Tour

On 28 October 2015, Haenow announced the dates for the One Night Tour, his first solo concert tour to support the album, which will commence in April 2016.[17] On 5 February 2016, it was confirmed that more than half of the tour dates had been cancelled due to low ticket sales and Haenow's subsequent departure from his record label.

List of One Night Tour dates and venues[17]
Date City Country Venue
15 April 2016 (2016-04-15) Manchester England Manchester Academy
16 April 2016 (2016-04-16) Newcastle O2 Academy Newcastle
17 April 2016 (2016-04-17) Glasgow Scotland O2 ABC Glasgow
19 April 2016 (2016-04-19) Croydon England Fairfield Halls
20 April 2016 (2016-04-20) Ipswich Regent Theatre
21 April 2016 (2016-04-21) Birmingham O2 Institute Birmingham
22 April 2016 (2016-04-22) Bristol O2 Academy Bristol
23 April 2016 (2016-04-23) Sheffield O2 Academy Sheffield

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart with 18,130 copies sold. In its second week, the album dropped 19 places to number 29, selling 7,743 copies, bringing its total to 25,873 copies sold. In its third week on the chart, the album dropped 1 place to number 30, selling 9,271 copies, bringing the sales total to 35,144 copies sold[18]

Track listing
Ben Haenow – Standard edition[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Second Hand Heart" (featuring Kelly Clarkson)
  • Afterhrs
  • Jason Halbert
  • Pete Hammerton
3:59
2."Slamming Doors"
Afterhrs3:52
3."All Yours"
  • Haenow
  • Andrew Jackson
  • J.R. Rotem
  • Dave Gibson
Rotem3:19
4."Start Again"
Robson3:31
5."Lions"
  • Jon Green
  • Michael Jope
Green3:07
6."Testify"
Gamson3:53
7."Make It Back to Me"
  • Haenow
  • Wadge
  • Duguid
Duguid3:59
8."Way Back When"
Koz3:41
9."Brother"
  • Haenow
  • Tom Havelock
  • Henrik Barman Michelsen
  • Edvard Førre Erfjord
Electric3:56
10."Something I Need"
John Ryan3:56
Total length:36:55
Ben Haenow – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."One Night"
Red Triangle3:37
12."Ready for You"
  • Carlson
  • McLoughlin
3:37
13."Greatest Mistake"
Powell3:40
14."Every Tear You Cry"
  • Haenow
  • Dan Gautreau
  • Gautreau
3:26
Total length:51:10

Charts and certifications

Release history
List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions, catalogue number and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Edition(s) Catalog number Ref.
Worldwide 13 November 2015 (2015-11-13)
  • CD
  • digital download
Standard 88875139022 [19]
Deluxe 88875139032
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gollark: baidicoot for backup hactar?
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gollark: Oh, I mean yours, but that works too.

References

Notes
  1. ^ Genre(s) based on pre-release reviews of Ben Haenow by The Independent, the BBC, and the Official Charts Company.[5][6][8]

Citations
  1. "X Factor winner Ben Haenow to record his debut album". BBC. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  2. Moss, Liv (21 December 2014). "X Factor's Ben Haenow crowned 2014 Official Christmas Number 1". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  3. Forrester, Katy (7 October 2015). "Ben Haenow has bought his mum a house after his number one single went platinum in the UK". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. "Ben Haenow signs US deal". TV3. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. Copsey, Rob (7 October 2015). "Ben Haenow has previewed his debut album and it's full of powerhouse pop-rock". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. Walsh, Ben (16 October 2015). "Ben Haenow interview: 'I'd see X Factor contestants crying on TV and thought I was never one of those people'". The Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  7. Watts, Halina (17 October 2015). "X Factor star Ben Haenow on his new album and duet with American superstar Kelly Clarkson". Daily Record. Scotland. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  8. Savage, Mark (24 October 2015). "Ben Haenow interview: 'It's good to distance yourself from X Factor'". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  9. Corner, Lewis (8 October 2015). "Ben Haenow decided against a full-on rock album: 'Nobody would buy it'". Digital Spy. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  10. "Second Hand Heart". Warner/Chappell Music. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  11. Goodwyn, Tom (21 October 2015). "Ben Haenow confirms full details of his self-titled debut album". HMV. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  12. Copsey, Rob (29 September 2015). "Ben Haenow teams up with Kelly Clarkson for new single Second Hand Heart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  13. "X Factor eXcitement as Ben Haenow, Little Mix & Ellie Goulding on show". STV. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. "Make It Back to Me" (metadata). Ben Haenow. Simco Limited. 2015. GBHMU1500139.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "All Yours" (metadata). Ben Haenow. Simco Limited. 2015. B016BJ9UN6.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. Corner, Lewis (28 January 2016). "The X Factor winner Ben Haenow exits Simon Cowell's Syco Music record label: 'It's the right time to move on'". Digital Spy. United Kingdom. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  17. Moss, Liv (28 October 2015). "X Factor winner Ben Haenow announces UK tour dates". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100".
  19. All citations concerning the worldwide release of Ben Haenow:
  20. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 47, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  21. November 2015/40/ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  22. "SA Top 20 – 5 Maart 2016" (in Afrikaans). RISA. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  23. November 2015/7502/ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  24. "British album certifications – Ben Haenow – Ben Haenow". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Ben Haenow in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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